Live online stream of Time Out for Women event just as inspiring as attending in person

By Wendy Jessen
For the Deseret News

Published: Monday, Oct. 29 2012 11:00 a.m. MDT

The women of Mercy River, left to right, Brooke Stone, Whitney Permann and Soni Muller perform during the Deseret Books sponsored Time Out for Women at the Salt Palace, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012. (Ben Brewer, Deseret News)

If you’ve ever been to a Time Out for Women event, you have likely been entertained, uplifted and renewed. Watching the live stream from the Salt Lake City event on Oct. 26-27 proved to be just as powerful an experience for me as being there in person.

I was excited and eager to watch online even though I had been to a live event recently. Topics included forgiveness, balancing our time, understanding our Savior and his many names and surrounding ourselves with good.

One of the speakers who had a profound effect on me was Sheri Dew, the CEO of Deseret Book, who spoke Friday, Oct. 26. She highlighted some things that have been on my mind as a woman in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

She shared how she has worked to correct such erroneous perceptions. Why don’t women hold the priesthood? She answered that we don’t know — but we do know that this is the Lord’s church, not the church of man. The Lord presides and he decides the doctrine. She also explained that the priesthood keys are just as valid for women as they are for men. I loved this because it helped me to know how I can explain my role in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to those who may not understand.

The women of Mercy River, left to right, Brooke Stone, Whitney Permann and Soni Muller perform during the Deseret Books sponsored Time Out for Women at the Salt Palace, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012. (Ben Brewer, Deseret News)

Mercy River, comprised of Brooke Stone, Soni Muller and Whitney Permann, is my favorite singing group. Their music, their spirit and their tender stories they shared on Oct. 27 were so touching. Permann shared a story of her infant son getting a hanger stuck in the flesh area under his tongue. Throughout this ordeal, he continually wanted the touch and comfort of his mother. She said she thought that this is how Heavenly Father must feel when we truly need him, which led into their song “Better Than a Hallelujah.”

The group also performed a parody called “Bye, Bye, Bye,” which was a hit. I can relate to every line in that song: I don’t want to be a mom after 8 p.m.; sorry you didn’t eat your dinner, but you’re not getting a snack; I don’t want three of you in my bed at half past two. It was brilliant.

Author Emily Freeman laughs during her introduction during the Deseret Books sponsored Time Out for Women at the Salt Palace, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012. (Ben Brewer, Deseret News)

I also really loved Emily Freeman, who spoke on the “middle moments of our journey” and trusting in his word, his timing and his example, and that his sacrifice will lead to miracles. A quote she shared from the late Elder Neal A. Maxwell particularly stuck with me: “Trust God enough to trust also his timing.”

I connected specifically to the story Freeman related about her husband losing his job. Five months later, he was able to purchase a company from a woman who had just lost her husband to cancer. She had been praying for more time, while Freeman and her husband had been praying to speed things up. Similarly, my husband was laid off in May. We prayed and fasted and worked. We did not understand why we had to experience this. Then earlier this month, he was able to purchase a company. Things just fell into place. Trust in his timing.

At the Richfield Time Out for Women event in Richfield on Oct. 13, Wendy Jessen, second from left, was able to meet the members of singing group Mercy River — Brooke Stone, Soni Muller and Whitney Permann. (Provided by Wendy Jessen)

I really enjoyed listening to these speakers, their testimonies, their stories and their inspiring music. It has strengthened my testimony and my resolve and inspired me in various ways to “Seek the Good” while I strive to be a better mother, a better wife and a better me.